SEATTLE – It’s been nearly one yr since Music Yadong competed contained in the UFC cage, despite the fact that he’s been wholesome and able to go for a lot of months.
Music (21-8-1 MMA, 10-3-1 UFC) has used time to not solely enhance his expertise but in addition his English. He proudly fielded questions from reporters (together with MMA Junkie) at Wednesday’s media day with solely temporary help from the onsite interpreter.
Three days out from his UFC Combat Night time 252 headliner at Local weather Pledge Area vs. Henry Cejudo (16-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC), Music gave his overview of the higher echelon of the division – together with the place he sees himself becoming in.
“It is a nice alternative for me,” Music mentioned. “He’s a two-division champion, an Olympic champion. He has an enormous title. He’s good on the microphone. He’s a promoter. It’s an honor to struggle him. Regardless that he’s misplaced two fights, have a look at who he misplaced to. They’re champions. He’s nonetheless within the high. I’m so honored to struggle him. … I’ve been coaching wrestling for a very long time, for the reason that UFC supplied me to struggle Umar (Nurmagomedov).”
The Nurmagomedov struggle was mentioned for December, however the promotion finally put the Dagestani contender right into a title struggle vs. Merab Dvalishvili as a substitute. Dvalishvili gained by unanimous resolution.
“It was a very good struggle,” Music mentioned. “Merab has loopy cardio. It was loopy. I believe an enormous cause why Umar misplaced the struggle was due to his palms. He damage his palms. He couldn’t grapple. However it’s what it’s.”
No matter how issues go Saturday with Cejudo, Music feels there’s unfinished enterprise with Nurmagomedov (18-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC).
“For subsequent, I wish to struggle Umar,” Music mentioned. “The UFC supplied me it a couple of months in the past. I wish to get it carried out. … We each by no means signed a contract. I advised them I can struggle and the UFC mentioned sure. Finally, they advised me he acquired injured. I don’t know what occurred. Then, two days later (he acquired the struggle with) Merab. I believe Umar truly injured however the UFC advised him. ‘Merab can struggle you, he wished to get the possibility to be the champion,’ so he took the struggle.”
As for Dvalishvili (19-4 MMA, 12-2 UFC), Music doesn’t assume the present UFC bantamweight champion is invincible – and he’s desirous to show that to the world himself.
“He acquired rocked,” Music mentioned. “So I consider if I struggle him, I can knock him to sleep.”
For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC Combat Night time 252.
Make sure you go to the MMA Junkie Instagram web page and YouTube channel to debate this and extra content material with followers of blended martial arts.
